The Thursday-to-Sunday event, at Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, is a longtime staple of the Tour's Florida Swing. Along with serving as part of the “spring training” run to the year's first major championship — the Masters, April 11-14 — Bay Hill is also host for the annual pilgrimage to Arnie's Florida base to pay well-deserved respects to the King.

Thirteen of the top 20 golfers in the world rankings are on hand this week. Thankfully, for TV execs and ticket-takers, two of them are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Volusia's east side is also represented with three golfers of local interest.

It's all part of a foursome of reasons to enjoy this week's PGA Tour offering . . .

TIGER GOES PUBLIC

The best golfers have a great ability to forget their double-bogeys, grab the driver on the next tee and take dead aim at the next target. Woods' last experience with a beautiful blonde didn't end well. But that hasn't stopped him from hopping on the lift for the Black Diamond Slope.

Tiger has gone public with his new, high-profile dating partner — alpine skier Lindsey Vonn — and even supplied a slick photo album (complete with his Nike and her Under Armour logos). If Vonn's recently injured knee allows her to join the gallery, how long before the TV cameras begin showing her every reaction?

SNED'S BACK ON COURSE

Brandt Snedeker was the world's hottest golfer through most of the winter. He had four top-5s, including a win, in his first five starts of 2013, but hasn't played in over a month due to a strained rib. There are few things you can do comfortably with a strained rib, and no, golf doesn't make that short list.

Here's hoping it's fully healed, because Snedeker was looking like he's ready to cash in on what's perceived as major potential. But if he has to gouge one out of the thick rough this week, hold your breath.

LOCAL ROOTING INTEREST

For the second straight week, Matt Every, Robert Streb and Rod Perry are all in the field.

Every (Mainland High) is overdue for a good week after three straight missed cuts. Streb (New Smyrna Beach) has made three straight cuts and is currently 87th on the money list, with $261,188. Perry (head pro at Port Orange's Crane Lakes) made the Bay Hill field as reigning North Florida PGA Player of the Year and would consider it a victory to reach the weekend.

MORE TIGER

The old “Certain Horses for Certain Courses” rule holds true for many players, but really, nearly any course with 18 tees and greens has been kind to Tiger Woods in his career. Bay Hill's welcome mat, however, has been bigger than all others. Tiger has seven wins in Arnie's backyard. Another would tie him with Sam Snead's single-event victory record — the Slammer won eight times in Greensboro.

For what it's worth, Tiger is just six wins shy of Snead's all-time mark of 82 PGA Tour victories. And unlike a year ago, when Tiger came to Bay Hill with a 30-month winless streak, Snead's record is again looking rather vulnerable.

<p>Geographically, the PGA Tour is never closer to Volusia County than it is this week with the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational.</p><p>The Thursday-to-Sunday event, at Palmer's Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, is a longtime staple of the Tour's Florida Swing. Along with serving as part of the “spring training” run to the year's first major championship — the Masters, April 11-14 — Bay Hill is also host for the annual pilgrimage to Arnie's Florida base to pay well-deserved respects to the King. </p><p>Thirteen of the top 20 golfers in the world rankings are on hand this week. Thankfully, for TV execs and ticket-takers, two of them are Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Volusia's east side is also represented with three golfers of local interest.</p><p>It's all part of a foursome of reasons to enjoy this week's PGA Tour offering . . .</p><p><b>TIGER GOES PUBLIC</b></p><p>The best golfers have a great ability to forget their double-bogeys, grab the driver on the next tee and take dead aim at the next target. Woods' last experience with a beautiful blonde didn't end well. But that hasn't stopped him from hopping on the lift for the Black Diamond Slope.</p><p>Tiger has gone public with his new, high-profile dating partner — alpine skier Lindsey Vonn — and even supplied a slick photo album (complete with his Nike and her Under Armour logos). If Vonn's recently injured knee allows her to join the gallery, how long before the TV cameras begin showing her every reaction?</p><p></p><p><b>SNED'S BACK ON COURSE</b></p><p>Brandt Snedeker was the world's hottest golfer through most of the winter. He had four top-5s, including a win, in his first five starts of 2013, but hasn't played in over a month due to a strained rib. There are few things you can do comfortably with a strained rib, and no, golf doesn't make that short list.</p><p>Here's hoping it's fully healed, because Snedeker was looking like he's ready to cash in on what's perceived as major potential. But if he has to gouge one out of the thick rough this week, hold your breath. </p><p></p><p><b>LOCAL ROOTING INTEREST</b></p><p>For the second straight week, Matt Every, Robert Streb and Rod Perry are all in the field.</p><p>Every (Mainland High) is overdue for a good week after three straight missed cuts. Streb (New Smyrna Beach) has made three straight cuts and is currently 87th on the money list, with $261,188. Perry (head pro at Port Orange's Crane Lakes) made the Bay Hill field as reigning North Florida PGA Player of the Year and would consider it a victory to reach the weekend. </p><p></p><p><b>MORE TIGER</b></p><p>The old “Certain Horses for Certain Courses” rule holds true for many players, but really, nearly any course with 18 tees and greens has been kind to Tiger Woods in his career. Bay Hill's welcome mat, however, has been bigger than all others. Tiger has seven wins in Arnie's backyard. Another would tie him with Sam Snead's single-event victory record — the Slammer won eight times in Greensboro.</p><p>For what it's worth, Tiger is just six wins shy of Snead's all-time mark of 82 PGA Tour victories. And unlike a year ago, when Tiger came to Bay Hill with a 30-month winless streak, Snead's record is again looking rather vulnerable.</p>